RELS 110:12 Introduction to World Religions RELS 110:12 Introduction to World Religions

RELS110: Agenda Attendance In the Religious Calendar (4 minutes) Religion in the News (4 minutes) Announcements / Administrativa (2 minutes) Student Presentation or discussion of the scripture reading (10 minutes). Explaining a concept (15 minutes) – for the exam’s paragraph answer section. How this course will work What is religion? Demonstrate course site ( ) Video with focus questions (14 minutes) and discussion Homework for Next Time (1 minute)

In the calendar September 9-10, 2010 Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan)Eid ul-Fitr September 11, 2001 Do you think the perpetrators thought they were doing evil?

September 8-9, 2010: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

Religion in the News 1.September 11, 2010 Qur’an burning

Class Schedule To enable you to know the time for your presentation

Getting to know you Name Year Major or academic interest

Demonstrating Demonstrating Logging in Course information Syllabus Assignment dates Online quizzes Submitting assignments Checking your grades

Studying Religions “Describe what religion is in terms of it necessary and optional characteristics. What distinguishes religion from spirituality, philosophy, and cultural worldview?”

What is “religion”? What components do “religions” have? Which of these are necessary (without them it wouldn’t be a religion)? Which of these are optional (a religion may or may not have them)? What do “religions” have in common?

Necessary components Connects humans to a supernatural reality Is organized: Is shared with others has recognized authorities Has rituals

Optional components Teachings: Meaning: what is the purpose of life, the universe, and everything? Salvation: How to escape the basic human predicament Ethics: What is right and wrong? What happens after death? Practices: Rites of passage Expressing devotion: Worship, Prayer, Thanks, Praise, Sacrifice, Appeasement Scriptures Education Service

“Religion” or something else? What is the difference between a “religion” and: Spirituality? Spirituality can be individual; Religion is shared with others. (e.g., New Age spirituality) Philosophy? Philosophy ignores the supernatural, or at least supernatural persons. (Confucianism? Scientology?) Cultural Worldview? May not have recognized authorities or rituals.

Are all religions equal? How might one evaluate a religion? Its truth? Is it consistent with scientific discoveries? Is it internally consistent? Its methods? Does it treat people with respect? Its effects? Does it make better individuals? Better in what ways? Happier (at peace)? Healthier? More free? Does it improve society? Does it make people less selfish? More cooperative? Less violent? Does it contribute to the survival of the species? Protect the environment?

Why are there religions? Three main perspectives: Materialistic perspective Functional perspective Belief perspective

Materialistic explanation for religion Humans invented religion. Feuerbach Gods are idealized projections of ourselves; by contrast we see ourselves as sinful. Freud Religion is a childish illusion; we imagine God protects us from the terrors of life and expects us to behave. Marx Religion originated to combat exploitation, but failed and was transformed into an otherworldly expression of our desire for a better life. Religion now has become a tool for oppression. “Man makes religion: religion does not make man....The religious world is but the reflex of the real world....Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people....”

Functional explanation for religion Religion is useful. Durkheim: Religion is a glue that holds society together Bowker: Religion improves the chances of the biological survival of a society. Religious people have better health Religion transforms people into better people Religion provides mental strength to act unselfishly Religion provides courage in the face of difficulty and death

Belief explanation for religion There actually is a supernatural reality. Two main ways of coming to this belief: Rational, pondering questions such as: What is the ultimate basis of existence? Why is there something rather than nothing? Why do we perceive right and wrong? Non-Rational (Wach) Mystical experience Enlightenment / awakening Where do perceived miracles fit?

For discussion: What is the role of wishful thinking in religion? In these three perspectives? In your view?

Living Religions 7th ed. by Mary Pat Fisher 1-21 PRENTICE HALL © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ Key Terms absolutist agnosticism allegory atheism awakening charisma comparative religion Creationism Darwinism dogma enlightenment exclusivism Fundamentalism gnosis heretic immanent incarnation intelligent design liberal metaphysics monotheism mysticism myth orthodox phenomenology polytheism profane realization redaction religion ritual sacred scientific materialism spirituality symbol theism transcendent universalism

Understandings of Sacred Reality Terms: (These categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive) Immanent: present in the world. Transcendent: existing above and outside the material world Theistic: understanding the sacred to be a personal reality Monotheistic: ultimate reality is worshiped as a single being Polytheistic: there are multiple attributes and forms of the divine, then it is designated. Monistic: behind the plurality of apparent forms there is one underlying substance Nontheistic: sacred reality is not in the form of a personal God. Incarnations: sacred reality manifested in human form or events. Exclusivist: there is only true deity and that all others are pagans or nonbelievers. Universalism: it is possible different religions are talking about the same thing in different languages, or referring to different aspects of the same unknowable whole. Atheism: there is no deity. “New Atheism” (Dawkins): religious faith is not just wrong, but evil Agnosticism: it is impossible for humans to know with certainty about the existence of the sacred.

For Next Time For Tuesday, 10:15 Read Chapter 1: Religious Responses Write the online quiz (for marks) for Chapter 1 on the Moodle site. For Thursday, 9:15 Read online readings for discussion Freud, Marx, Glynn, Stenmark, & Tillich For Monday, 8:15 Indigenous Sacred Ways Write the online quiz (for marks) for Chapter 2 on the Moodle site.